Downstate's Dr. Michael A. Weber to Deliver Nahum J. Winer Lecture at the New York Academy of Medicine
Sep 16, 2013
Michael A. Weber, MD, professor of medicine and associate dean for research at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, will deliver the New York Academy of Medicine's 2013 Nahum J. Winer Lecture on October 8, 2013, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, at the Academy, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029. The Winer lectureship was created by the family of Nahum J. Winer, a respected clinical and research cardiologist who was an officer of the New York Academy of Medicine for many years. Dr. Winer received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate.
Dr. Weber’s talk is titled, "Unresolved Issues in Diagnosing and Treating Hypertension: Is Renal Sympathectomy an Answer?" He will review what blood pressure levels are appropriate for treatment, currently proposed drug strategies, and the possible role of renal sympathectomy.
Renal sympathectomy is a new but not yet FDA-approved procedure for treatment-resistant
hypertension to get blood pressure below a defined goal. This technique destroys the
nerves serving the kidneys, important in blood pressure control, by using a catheter
to apply an electric current through the arteries that supply the kidneys. This method,
although invasive, appears to be effective in many patients whose blood pressures
cannot otherwise be controlled. Major clinical trials are now underway to examine
this treatment more thoroughly.
Dr. Weber’s focus as a cardiologist has primarily been on hypertension and preventive
cardiology. He has published numerous research articles in the medical literature
and has authored or edited 16 books. Together with Suzanne Oparil, MD, he is responsible
for the widely used reference volume, Hypertension. He is the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Clinical Hypertension and was one of the founders of The American Society of Hypertension (ASH), for which
he has served as president. He also served as chair of the ASH Hypertension Specialists
Program. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American College
of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. He has also served on the Cardiovascular
and Renal Drugs Advisory Board of the Food and Drug Administration, and continues
as a consultant to that agency.
His main current research interests are in clinical trials of patients at high risk
of cardiovascular events or strokes. He is also participating actively in trials in
patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes and kidney disease. Dr. Weber currently
serves on the steering committees of several national and international clinical outcomes
trials.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.